A warm welcome to WakingGround
Counselling & Therapy
Contrary to what we may have been taught to think, unnecessary and unchosen suffering wounds us, but need not scar us for life. It does mark us. What we allow the mark of our suffering to become is in our own hands.
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bell hooks
HOW I WORK
​In my practice I offer a space for people to explore their feelings, thoughts, behaviour, relationships and life events in order to: understand themselves and others better; process difficult experiences and improve coping; learn to live the life they have more fully. Whatever brings you to therapy, together we will address your own unique strengths and struggles, personality and history, whilst keeping in mind that our experiences are shaped by our social, cultural and economic circumstances. My role is to support you in your own process, by asking questions, noticing and investigating with you, to help you to make sense of things, and try out new ways of seeing or being.
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I work in a trauma-informed way, treating mind and body as a single, overarching system. Whilst I make use neuroscientifically-informed understandings of our psychological development in childhood and adolescence, and of the functioning of the human nervous system throughout life, I work in an open way - I don’t offer one-size-fits-all "tools", and I don't undertake diagnosis, though I respect the fact that some people come with diagnoses and find having them very helpful.
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My style of being is natural and friendly, and I welcome whatever arises, including humour and irreverence, as these qualities can provide a light that makes exploring the darkest corners of experience bearable.​ The fit between a client and therapist matters, and I know I can't be the right therapist for everyone, so I have included a list places where you can find other therapists in the Resources section of this website.
Eventually we realize that not knowing what to do is just as real and as useful as knowing what to do. Not knowing stops us from taking false directions. Not knowing what to do, we start to pay real attention. Just as people lost in the wilderness, on a cliff face or in a blizzard pay attention with the kind of acuity that they would not have if they thought they knew where they were. Why? Because for those who are really lost, their life depends on paying real attention. If you think you know where you are, you stop looking.
David Whyte
ABOUT ME
Beth Carley; MBACP, Postgrad Dip, PhD, MSc, BA (hons)
I am an integrative therapist, which means my work draws on theory and practice from multiple fields of counselling and therapy, including trauma- and attachment-orientated approaches, Embodied Relational Therapy and Gestalt. My personal experience of counselling first began many years ago, and has encompassed a number of different therapeutic modalities, which informed my decision to train as an integrative practitioner. Indeed, my own experiences of life's challenges serve as an important element of my orientation to therapy work. Drawing on the ancient myth of the ‘wounded healer’, I use my own experience as a bridge to my client's suffering (to paraphrase James Baldwin), in order to meet them as a fellow human being, rather than as a distant "authority". I previously worked for four years as a counsellor at Watford Women’s Centre, with female survivors of domestic abuse. My pronouns are she/her.
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I hold a British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)-accredited foundation certificate and postgraduate diploma in integrative counselling from the Minster Centre in London, one of Europe’s leading integrative counselling and psychotherapy training institutes. I am a registered member of the BACP and have full professional indemnity insurance.
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In my previous career I was an academic researcher, where my work involved speaking to people about their lived experiences of community organising in economically-deprived neighbourhoods. I have a PhD in Social Policy and a Master’s degree in Social Research, from the University of Manchester, and a Bachelor’s degree in Modern European Languages, from the University of Liverpool.
spring thaw and its rushing forth again
the trees keep growing outwards,
sometimes almost horizontally,
no matter how constrained by concrete or drowned by flood
the ice always thaws
and I give thanks for tears
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Sophie Shepherd
PRACTICALITIES
Having trained and lived in London for several years, I continue to work online with clients in London and throughout the UK. However, I am now living in Southwest France, in Arudy, in the Ossau Valley (35 minutes drive from Pau), where I am able to offer sessions face-to-face or online.
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I work with adults (age 18 upwards) and I see clients once a week, on a open-ended basis, with the option of regular reviews. Sessions last 50 minutes. I mostly do longer-term work, but I am guided by whatever the client brings - often what has been missing for those of us who come to therapy is patient, dedicated attention, without the pushing or rushing of everyday life; at other times what is needed can be arrived at more quickly.
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Please contact me by email at beth@wakingground.com or by phone on 07786 386978 (from the UK) or 07 56 84 35 31 (from France). If calling, please leave a voicemail, and I will call you back.
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RESOURCES
Below you'll find links and contact details for organisations that provide crisis support, that offer support and information on different mental health difficulties, and for different communities, as well as places where you can find out more about therapy and search for other therapists. (Separate listings for the UK and France.)
CRISIS SUPPORT
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If you are in crisis, feel unsafe and don’t know what to do:
In the UK
Dial 999
Go to A&E, or ask someone to take you
Call the Samaritans, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, or contact SHOUT (see details below).
In France:
Dial 15 for the emergency medical service (SAMU) or or the general emergency number 112.
Go to your local hospital emergency room ("Urgences")
Call SOS Help, English language helpline (see details below)
Call Suicide Écoute (French language helpline), or 3114 (French language national suicide prevention helpline) - see details below
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Sources of crisis support:
In the UK:
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SHOUT
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258
More info on their website: https://giveusashout.org/
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Samaritans
A helpline, for whatever you're going through. Free and confidential. Available at any time, from any phone, 365 days a year.
Call 116 123
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National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. Call 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
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CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Helpline for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Call 0800 58 58 58
Open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year.
They also offer a webchat and information/ links to support with specific issues on:
https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/
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NHS mental health helplines
Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline
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In France:
SOS Help
SOS Help is an English-language emotional support line for the international community in France.
01 46 21 46 46 (3pm-11pm, daily)
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SOS Amitié
A French-language listening service modelled on the Samaritans in the UK, contactable by phone, email or by online chat (via their website).
Call: 09 72 39 40 50 (24hrs, 7 days)
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Suicide Écoute
French-language suicide helpline: 01 45 39 40 00 (24hrs a day, 7 days a week)
https://www.suicide-ecoute.fr/
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3114
French-language national suicide prevention helpline (24hrs, 7 days a week), call 3114.
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SOS Suicide Phénix
French-language suicide helpline:
01 40 44 46 45 (1pm-11pm, 7 days)
OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT/INFORMATION
Resources in the UK
Mind
A national charity with lots of information and routes to support for many different mental health difficulties and diagnoses.
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Black Minds Matter
Mental health support and resources for Black people
https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/
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MindOut
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service
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Anxiety UK
Helpline: 03444 775 774
Text support: 07537 416 905
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Depression UK
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National Domestic Abuse helpline
Freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
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Women's Aid
Lots of information and resources for survivors of domestic abuse, including live chat and email support. https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
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Cruse Bereavement Care
Support and information for anyone experiencing bereavement.
Telephone helpline: 0808 808 1677
Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk
Web: www.cruse.org.uk
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The Mix
Mental health support for under 25s.
Telephone support, 1-1-1 online chat and a Crisis Messenger text service
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The Survivors Trust
Lists local specialist services for survivors of sexual violence, including advocates and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs).
For support, advice and information tel: 0808 801 0818
thesurvivorstrust.org
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ASSIST trauma care
Information and specialist help for people with PTSD and anyone supporting them.
Helpline: 01788 551919
assisttraumacare.org.uk
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National Autism Society
The UK's leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families.
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Refugee Council
Mental health support for refugees and asylum-seekers
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/service-category/mental-health/
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Carers UK
Information and advice on all aspects of caring.
Tel. 0800 055 6112.
web: www.carersuk.org
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Harmless
User-led organisation that supports people who self-harm, their friends and families.
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Hearing Voices Network
Committed to helping people who hear voices. Raising awareness of non-medical approaches to voice hearing. HVN has a growing network of support groups across the UK
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Resources in France:
Alcoholics Anonymous Southwest France
English-language branch of AA. Offers meetings online via Zoom and an English language helpline:
https://www.aafrance.net/
Tel: 05 31 60 90 95
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Bereavement Support Network
English-language support for bereavement and those dealing with end of life
Tel: 06 24 50 22 74 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
https://bsnvar.org/
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Women for Women in France
A multilingual online resource centre for all victims of domestic abuse in France and the professionals who support them, including online chat service: https://www.womenforwomenfrance.org/en
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France Dépression
Information and support regarding depression and bi-polar disorder
https://francedepression.fr/
Call: 07 84 96 88 28 (Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 2pm-8pm)
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Empreintes
Information and support with bereavement and loss
National support and information line: 01 42 38 08 08 (Mon-Thurs)
https://www.empreintes-asso.com/
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Fédération Française Anorexie Boulimie (FFAB)
Support for people with eating disorders and their family/friends.
Phone line to access specialist support: 09 69 325 900 (Mon-Fri 4pm-6pm)
https://www.ffab.fr/
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Drogues-info-service.fr
Support with drug and alcohol addiction
Telephone 0 800 23 13 13 (8am-2am, 7 days a week)
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Fil Santé Jeunes
Adolescents and young people information and support (12-25 years of age)
Call : 0 800 235 236 (9am- 11pm, 7 days a week)
https://www.filsantejeunes.com/
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Allô Enfance en Danger (Service National d’Accueil Téléphonique de l’Enfance en Danger)
Phoneline for emergency reporting where a child is at risk and to get support and information.
Call 119 (24hrs, 7 days a week)
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LÉIA est lÃ
Support for people questioning their sexuality or gender identity and victims of homophobia or transphobia.
Help and information line: 0800 004 134 (8am to 11pm, 7 days a week)
https://leiaestla.fr/
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SOS Homophobie
Information and support for victims of homophobia
Helpline: 01 48 06 42 41 (Open evenings & afternoon & evening on Saturdays)
https://www.sos-homophobie.org/
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Solidarité Femmes
A network of 81 associations across France who support and house female victims of violence and their children
Helpline, call 3919 (24hrs, 7 days a week)
https://solidaritefemmes.org/
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Fédération nationale GAMS
Information and support for female victims of sexual mutilation, forced or child marriage
01 43 48 10 87
https://federationgams.org/
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Collectif Feministe Contre le Viol (CFCV)- Viols Femmes Informations
Information and support for female and child survivors of rape and sexual violence, including information lines.
Women’s information line: 0 800 05 95 95 (Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm)
Sexual violence in childhood helpline: 0 805 802 804 (Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm)
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Écoute Violences Femmes Handicapées
Information and support for disabled female survivors of violence.
https://ecoute-violences-femmes-handicapees.fr/
Helpline 01 40 47 06 06 (Mon-Thurs, mostly mornings)
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Autisme Info Service
Information and support for autism and neurodiversity.
Information and support line: 0800 71 40 40 (Mon-Fri, mornings & afternoons)
https://www.autismeinfoservice.fr/
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France Victimes
Support for victims of crime and their families
Helpline: 116 006 (7 days a week)
https://www.france-victimes.fr/index.php
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Avec nos proches
Support for carers
National helpline 01 84 72 94 72 (8am-10am, 7 days a week)
ABOUT THERAPY/ FIND A THERAPIST
UK-based therapists
BACP British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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UKCP United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/
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BAATN The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network
Home of the largest community of counsellors and psychotherapists of Black, African, Asian and Caribbean Heritage in the UK
https://www.baatn.org.uk/find-a-therapist/
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Pink Therapy
Directory of pink therapists provides a list of practitioners who work in an affirmative way with LGBTQ individuals and couples.
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COSRT College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
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The Body Psychotherapy Network
https://www.bodypsychotherapynetwork.co.uk/findatherapist
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France-based therapists
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Counselling in France
https://www.counsellinginfrance.com/
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Paris Psychology Centre
https://www.parispsychologycentre.com/
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La Fedération Française de Psychothérapie et Psychoanalyse (FF2P)
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